Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

I rise briefly to comment on one or two matters. We on these Benches are also concerned about the wide discretion that this government amendment proposes. We recognise and accept the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Judd, that they are national parks. However, I think that having a 25 per cent proportion seems to be commonly agreed and is the right one to aim at. If the amendment requires directly elected members to the authority, I have to ask the noble Baroness, Lady Miller, who will be in that election process? Is it everybody who lives in the area, or is it down to the parish councils, or the district councils or the county councils which fall into that particular area? Secondly, if we are going to have more national parks—and obviously the case of South Downs is still outstanding—that covers a great number of local authorities. How will they decide who will or will not be elected? When the issue was debated in another place, Jim Knight, the Minister, said:"““We are considering the mix of members, not the number of them, which will be set in secondary legislation””.—[Official Report, Commons Standing Committee A, 30/6/05; col. 239.]" We have a chance here in primary legislation to get it right. I should be grateful if the Minister would clarify that, because I am somewhat alarmed if it is to be left to secondary legislation when there is a chance to set it in primary legislation.